2 ENGINEERING ON THE FARM 



presents to his superior such facts as will enable the superior 

 to understand conditions as they exist on the ground and to 

 have practically the same knowledge as if he had collected 

 his own information. Materials and methods best adapted 

 to secure intelligible records and reports are discussed below. 



MATERIALS 



Notebook. A notebook should be selected with pages of 

 suitable size and properly ruled for the data. When con- 

 sistent with other requirements, a size that will go into a 

 side coat pocket is desirable. The book should at all times 

 be carried in a pocket from which it cannot be lost. The 

 hip pocket is objectionable because riding in a seat or saddle 

 may cause it to be worked out. If carried in an inside or 

 front coat pocket, it may slide out while the owner is crawl- 

 ing under a fence or lying down to drink. A buttoned flap 

 over the pocket protects the notebook from loss, as it holds 

 the book in place regardless of the posture of the owner. A 

 notebook binding should be strong enough to stand the wear 

 of the pocket, and the paper should be so tough that it will 

 not be torn by the wind. Lines should be ruled with an ink 

 that will reduce blurring to a minimum when wet. For office 

 use, books properly ruled and of suitable size are satisfactory, 

 as requirements of field service do not necessarily apply. 



Pencils. Field records are best made with a lead pencil. 

 The pencil used for recording should have a sharp point of 

 hard lead, 4H to 6H, a 5H being preferable. A fountain pen 

 should not be used, as the ink freezes in cold weather, dries 

 on the pen when exposed to wind, or becomes exhausted 

 when the pen cannot be refilled. Sufficient pressure should 

 be applied to a pencil to score the paper and thus prevent 

 obliteration of the notes. If the notes have been properly 

 kept, when the page is held up to the light the figure or 

 word can be read even though the lead has been removed 

 by rubbing or by water. Soft pencils that do not score the 

 paper are objectionable for original records, since rubbing 

 of the page or a drop of water may spread the lead and cause 



